Someone having problems tracking USPS delivery confirmation packages

[CarambasVintage]

Hi,

I've been noticing lately that some packages seem not to have been scanned by USPS at arrival in the US. Their website has a notice "origin post is preparing shipment". After a while I send a message to my customers and most of the time they got their package.

Is somebody else having the same kind of problems?

Thanks!

Maria

[sockysocks]

No never has this problem before on the USPS website - occasionally the UK's Royal Mail track and trace information isn't fully updated but USPS always shows two or three tracking messages before it is delivered.

[Former_Member]

Hello Maria,
I ship pack to US from istanbul. I have same problem with USPS since December 2010. USPS used to record all activities of international posts on their tracking page until 12/2010 but then never records, just a notice "origin post is preparing shipment" on tracking page, in spite of the pack is about delivered.
USPS records the last activity after delivery, unfortunately.

Because of this reason, I inform and warn my US customers about this problem with a note of invoice.
Seller looks as offender to the customers with this problem until delivery, unfortunately.
Best,
PRP

[CarambasVintage]

@PRP Thank you! It is a good idea to include something about this in the message to buyers.

@Sockysocks I guess packages arriving from the UK go through a different process and that USPS and Royal Mail have agreements that make the process smoother.

Thank you to both of you!

María

[CarambasVintage]

USPS is definitely having problems tracking registered mail. I had a response from 4 different buyers saying that they had received their items (after I sent a convo asking) and in all cases USPS website has a notice: "Origin Post is preparing shipment".

Maria

[andwhatelseisthere]

I read the news last week that USPS is on the cost cutting process which includes laying off people and closing down some units. The news has also warned that deliveries will be much slower this holiday gifts season. Tracking packages doesn't seem so accurate anymore. My client filed a dispute on me about non-delivery and later received the package the next day after filing the dispute. I understand her concern though since it took longer than usual. But even she received the package, the tracking status wasn't updated. This could be tricky if clients would tell a seller that she didn't receive a package even if she did and the seller had to do a refund without knowing. I wish USPS would work on this real soon.

[CarambasVintage]

It is a huge problem. As an international seller I a pay US $2.50 on each package to be able to have a delivery confirmation and see when it was delivered. Four customers told me yesterday that they had received their packages while the usps site had a note "origin post is preparing shipment".

I understand that USPS might be trying to cut costs but they just cannot cut services that are an agreement between post offices around the world. If they do not want to provide information online, that would be bad for us sellers, but fair enough, other Post offices don't do it. What they cannot do is to say that the package is still at the country of origin while it is in the hands of USPS.

I am including a note to my customers in my email notification of shipment . I guess that's all I can do now.

Maria

[Former_Member]

Can somebody explain me clear, what is USPS ?
Ilanite

[CarambasVintage]

Sorry... It is the United States Postal Service.

[hennyseashell]

I ship my items from Indonesia-Asia. I had ever the same problems couple of times when shipping to US. I always use an online tracking mailing service, but sometimes USPS doesn't input the date of shipping arrival. So I only could see the date of Departure from Indonesia outward office of exchange although the buyer had already received the item.

[Former_Member]

I live a problem again with USPS. I've shipped a small pack to my US customer on Nov 28 but no delivery yet and no any tracking record with postage activity in US.
I've asked our official post office; they said that my pack has entered US custom on Dec 3.
I wait and hope it will be delivered soon. :/

[sockysocks]

There is an interesting post here about lost or missing packages within the US.
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/site-help/discuss/9387614/page/1/

[CarambasVintage]

Thank you Mandy! Does it work for international shipments? The posting says:

" it always helps trace and find slow and "missing" packages mailed within the US (from the US.)"

My packages are arriving and sometimes a lot faster than I expected. The problem is that USPS sometimes does not even register that it was deliverd. The only way to know is to ask the customer.

Maria

[Former_Member]

Thank you very much Mandy! This link works good for me. I can send this link to my US customer(s) to fill and submit the problem, at least.
You're great!
Best,

[sockysocks]

Maria, yes I noticed this too but I think it can be used for parcels that have been sent from outside the US as there is a drop down menu on the form where you can select the country it was sent from.
I hope that I'll never have to use it but it's nice to know there is something we can try.

[CarambasVintage]

Mandy,

Thank you so much! It is really helpful. I hadn't thought of that option, I've already filed a claim here but I will ask my customers to use that form also.

Happy new year!

[Former_Member]

I have filled that form and submit on Dec19 ut no any response from USPS :o

[Former_Member]

Happy New Year!

[Former_Member]

@OP I always have this problem with USPS. Seems to take forever for them to update the package status.

[sockysocks]

Just read this in the forums - looks like USPS cutbacks might be causing problems -
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7722/business-topics/discuss/9521147/

[ClosetGothic]

I have this problem too - I'm in New Zealand and the only way I can track from here is by using an International Courier which is very expensive. Even so, often the only scan I get within US borders is as the customer signs for acceptance.

With my orders from USA I am often supplied with tracking numbers but they are pretty well useless as the only scan they get is at the initial sender's Post Office.

[Former_Member]

I would like to update about my US shipping. Unfortunately, my pack to one of my US buyers has not been delivered since November 28, 2011. It is lost and/or stolen. I've applied 3 times to USPS customer service and filled out inspecting form 2 times but no any response and solution. Therefore I had to refund my customer for that OOAK item.
I am so sorry for my customer because of she had bought it as a birthday gift for her friend. I really appreciate her patience and understanding.
I am really disappointed with USPS's poor working recently, not only on Holiday season, since almost a year.
Never records the activities of registered mailed packs/letters on tracking page, just shows a silly sentence as "Origin Post is Preparing Shipment" in spite of the packs already entered to US custom 15 days ago. Then maybe a record with delivered, if it has been delivered.
What a poor postage process without any recording/document since entering to country up to delivery?? I/my customer pay extra fee for tracking. What about credibility of USPS?? What a shame of USPS. I cannot believe this situation.
I need to share my experience and feelings with you.
I really appreciate our TR post office's excellent working. Sorry:(

[Former_Member]

It's such a nuisance, isn't it? I hate being at the mercy of the postal service. I'm sending out a replacement tomorrow for a package that was shipped on 1st December UK -> USA, plenty of time to arrive for Christmas but still no sign. Luckily for me it wasn't high price and the buyer is understanding, prefers a replacement (which I have in stock) than a refund.

[TigersandDragons]

I'm so sorry to hear about your missing packages!

Guess I'm not missing much by not having this tracking option available to Canadian shippers, sounds fairly useless.

So far no news is good news, but I keep worrying that I will be hearing back about some of my Christmas orders.

[CarambasVintage]

I ship certified mail with delivery confirmation. It worked very well until about 2 months ago.

Right now I have about ten packages that were delivered (I know because the buyer left feedback or I asked her and she responded) and the USPS site still has a note "origin post is preparing shipment". I think this is outrageous. They are placing the burden on the origin post office while the reality is that they are not scanning packages and updating information.

Two of my shipments are MIA since the end of November. I've made formal inquiries at my post office and asked my customers to fill in the USPS form. At my post office they informed me they have to wait for USPS to respond.

It is a very delicate situation, particularly for those of us that ship from small countries. I understand it would be hard to believe that the problem lies in USPS and not in the post office of a country some people never heard of.

I ship from Uruguay. Our public services (including the Post office) are quite good but I always worry because my customers probably don't know that and USPS used to be so reliable that they have no reason to doubt about its services.

Maria